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Serious Fraud Office
38. Mr. John Greenway: To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to review the operation of the Serious Fraud Office.
The Attorney-General: On 1 February 1995, I received the report of the consideration of merger group on the merits and feasibility of merging all or part of the fraud divisions of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office. I shall take my decision after consulting colleagues.
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Electro-shock Equipment
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Attorney-General (1) if he will seek to prosecute ICL Technical Plastics for breaches of section 5(1) (b) of the Firearms Act 1968 for selling electro-shock equipment; (2) if he will seek to prosecute ICL Technical Plastics for breaches of section 5(1) (b) of the Firearms Act 1968 for manufacturing electro-shock equipment without his authority; (3) if he will seek to prosecute ICL Technical Plastics for breaches of section 5(1) (b) of the Firearms Act 1968 for the possession of electro-shock equipment.
The Attorney-General: Decisions about prosecution can be taken only on the basis of evidence gathered during the course of a criminal investigation. It is for the relevant chief officer of police to decide in relation to the alleged offences whether such investigation is warranted. I understand that the Strathclyde police are investigating certain matters arising from a recent television documentary programme about ICL Technical Plastics Limited, which is a Glasgow-based company. Any evidence which may justify the institution of criminal proceedings will be considered by the independent prosecuting authorities.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the numbers, role and cost of European Union monitors in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Mr. Goodlad: There are 60 EU monitors in Bosnia, of whom five are British. Their primary role is to monitor political opinion, military capabilities, humanitarian aid supplies, human rights and the economic situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In 1994 the total budget for the EU monitoring mission in former Yugoslavia was D28 million or £11.6 million.
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the objectives, time scale, staff and budget of the EU administration of the city of Mostar; and what plans there are for similar initiatives elsewhere in Bosnia- Herzegovina.
Mr. Goodlad: The European Union was asked by the Bosnian-Croat and Muslim communities to administer the city of Mostar for two years, beginning July 1994. The EU's objective is to foster reconciliation and reunite the divided city. The EU administrator is Mr Hans Koschnik--German- -who has a multi-national staff of experts to assist him, including several British nationals. This year's budget is 32 million ecu or £25 million. Next year's budget is still to be finalised.
Land Mines
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what opinion of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in respect of land mines has been conveyed to him; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Goodlad: The Secretary-General of the United Nations has called for a complete ban on the use, production and transfer of anti-personnel land mines in his proposals for an agenda for development and an agency for peace which were published recently. No detailed discussions of the Secretary-General's proposals have yet taken place at the United Nations.
Inhumane Weapons Convention
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if United Kingdom policy at the review of the United Nations inhumane weapons convention supports the mapping and marking of minefields in all circumstances.
Mr. Goodlad: We support a prohibition on the emplacement of anti- personnel land mines without a self-destructing capability outside perimeter-marked areas monitored by military personnel. We also support proposals for the location of all minefields and mined areas to be recorded.
Sexual Offences (Children)
Mrs. Golding: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have been prosecuted for sexual offences involving children outside the United Kingdom for each year since records have been kept.
Mr. Baldry: There have been 135 reported cases of British citizens prosecuted outside the United Kingdom for sexual offences since 1974. Our records do not show which of those cases involved children.
|Number of
Year |cases
------------------------------
1974 |1
1981 |1
1982 |1
1983 |2
1986 |2
1987 |15
1988 |24
1989 |17
1990 |15
1991 |17
1992 |16
1993 |15
1994 |9
Anti-personnel Mines
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of countries which have announced their support for an international ban on the production, stockpiling, sale and use of anti-personnel mines.
Mr. Baldry: The following countries have announced their support for an international ban on the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel land mines: Australia, Belgium, Cambodia, Columbia, Ireland, Mexico and Sweden.
The 49th session of the General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution supporting further international efforts to seek solutions to the problems caused by
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anti-personnel land mines, with a view to their eventual elimination.Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the International Committee of the Red Cross in respect of United Kingdom proposals to control the international use of anti-personnel mines; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry: No such representations have been received.
Bosnia
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Jovan Zametica is covered by the travel curbs imposed by the United Nations on the Bosnian-Serb leadership; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: The list of those Bosnian Serbs whose movements would be restricted under Security Council resolution 942 remains under consideration in the UN Sanctions Committee. We cannot comment on which individuals might be included until the Committee's consideration is completed.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those persons included in the travel curbs imposed by the United Nations on Bosnian-Serb leaders and others residing in Pale; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: The list of those Bosnian Serbs whose movements would be restricted under SCR 942 remains under consideration by the UN Sanctions Committee.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those persons who have been permitted to represent in the United Kingdom the interests of the Bosnian Serbs led by Dr. Radovan Karadzic over the past four years; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: The Bosnian Serbs have no official representation in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often, and on what basis, Jovan Zametica has communicated with General Sir Michael Rose during the past eight weeks; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad: UNPROFOR is in regular contact with all parties, including the Bosnian Serbs. Mr. Zametica, as a spokesman for the Bosnian Serbs, is a regular interlocutor.
Rules and Regulations
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the rules and regulations in his Department which have been withdrawn in the last 12 months, or which his Department plans to withdraw in the next 12 months; and what impact this will have on his Department's manpower.
Mr. Baldry: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office issues very few rules and regulations. Secondary legislation is made by Order in Council. In 1994 at least 27 orders were revoked. The majority of these related to the lifting of the United Nations arms embargo on South
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Africa. There were no implications for the Department's manpower. The Department is continuing to identify rules and regulations for withdrawal. Those for withdrawal in the next 12 months will be announced as and when consultations are completed.Humanitarian Medical Treatment
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 1 February, Official Report, column 1069, what arrangements have been made to assist Llandugh hospital with suitable security arrangements for the duration of the treatment of defected Iraqi army Major Safa Al-Battat for thallium poisoning.
Mr. Goodlad: We wrote to Llandugh hospital on 31 January following an inquiry from it about arrangements for press interviews for Major Al- Battat, the victim of thallium poisoning by the Iraqi regime. We discussed access for the press with the hospital administration, and recognised that it was for the hospital to judge whether the media should be allowed access to the patient.
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 1 February, Official Report, column 1069, if he will list the general principles governing Her Majesty's Government's approach to requests for urgent humanitarian medical treatment for those injured in civil wars or uprisings against (a) the Iraqi regime and (b) other conflicts.
Mr. Goodlad: All cases are considered on their individual merits.
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 1 February, Official Report, column, 1069, if he will provide details of the arrangements for the acceptance on urgent medical humanitarian grounds of entry clearance of defected Iraqi army Major Safa Al-Battat for anti-poisoning treatment at Llandugh hospital, South Glamorgan.
Mr. Goodlad: We condemn the Iraqi regime's efforts to poison Major Al-Battat. This is another example of the continuing brutality in Iraq, and yet more evidence that the regime is still involved in terrorist activities. We are therefore glad to have been able to help the Iraqi National Congress arrange Major Al-Battat's treatment here, and to ensure that his visa application was given prompt consideration in accordance with normal immigration rules.
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 1 February, Official Report, column 1069, what representations he has received concerning that arrangements for the treatment at Llandugh hospital, South Glamorgan of defected Iraqi army Major Safa Al-Battat for thallium, poisoning.
Mr. Goodlad: We discussed the arrangements for media access to Major Al-Battat with the hospital administrators and officials in the Welsh Office.
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OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Aid
41. Mrs. Anne Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the level of overseas aid.
Mr. Baldry: The aid budget for the current year is some £2.2 billion.
Know-how Funds
42. Mr. Heald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the contributions of British know-how funds relative to other aid given to the former Soviet Union and central and eastern Europe.
Mr. Baldry: The know-how fund is an important contributor to the transition process in the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe. The fund has a deservedly enviable reputation in the region.
45. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work is being undertaken by the know-how fund in Albania.
Mr. Baldry: The know-how fund is supporting a range of activities in Albania. At present the main emphasis of the programme is health care and local government reform. Projects are also under way in many other fields, including agriculture, small business and the environment.
World Bank
43. Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the work of the World bank inspection panel.
Mr. Baldry: The World bank's independent inspection panel became operational last August. To date, it has received one request for an inspection. We hope the panel will prove a useful addition to the existing systems of control provided by the board of directors and by bank management.
Reproductive Health Care
44. Mr. Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what work the Overseas Development Administration is doing to improve reproductive health care.
Mr. Baldry: The Overseas Development Administration's strategy to improve reproductive health is expressed in its children by choice, not chance policy. It focuses on improving access to good quality contraception; helping to prevent and treat sexually
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transmitted infection, including HIV; and making pregnancy and childbirth safer. The ODA expects to have committed at least £100 million over 1994 and 1995 to reproductive health programmes.Indonesia
46. Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial support he is giving to the democratic trade union movement in Indonesia.
Mr. Baldry: Our aid programme to Indonesia does not include any financial support to the trade union movement.
Sri Lanka
47. Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present amount of aid funding being given to Sri Lanka.
Mr. Baldry: On present plans we expect to spend some £8.94 million on bilateral aid projects for Sri Lanka in 1994 95.
Baltic States
48. Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to widen the scope of aid to the Baltic states.
Mr. Baldry: The know how fund will continue to provide rapid and flexible assistance to the reform process in the Baltic states. The countries concerned very much welcome our support.
Rwanda
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the United Nations development programme-sponsored conference on Rwanda in Geneva that has just concluded; how much was pledged by each of the participants; and for what purposes.
Mr. Baldry: Participants at the UNDP round table welcomed the priorities set out in the Government of Rwanda's programme of national reconciliation and socio-economic rehabilitation and recovery. They pledged almost $583 million in support of the programme and related activities. Individual pledges are set out in the table. The United Kingdom has also pledged a further £4 million to the United Nations consolidated inter- agency appeal for Rwanda, to meet emergency needs within Rwanda and in the region. Since April 1994, Britain has committed £66 million in emergency and rehabilitation assistance bilaterally and through the EU to help Rwandans affected by the crisis.
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Round table conference for Rwanda
UNDP summary of funds pledged (US millions of dollars)
|Outside round
Donor |Sub-Programme 1 |Sub-Programme 2 |Sub-Programme 3 |table document<1>|Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bilateral
Austria |n/a |n/a |n/a |- |1.7
Belgium |12.4 |2.7 |20.5 |- |35.6
Canada |7.7 |- |9.5 |- |17.2
France |- |- |- |- |amount to be
|determined
Germany |- |14.0 |66.0 |- |80.0
Ireland |0.6 |n/a |n/a |- |1.6
Italy |- |- |- |- |to be announced
Japan |- |22.5 |- |- |22.5
Netherlands |19.5 |- |13.5 |- |33.0
New Zealand |- |- |- |- |to be announced
Russia |- |- |- |- |to be announced
Spain |n/a |- |4.5 |- |9.5
Sweden |n/a |n/a |n/a |- |3.0
Switzerland |0.8 |- |12.0 |- |12.8
United Kingdom |1.5 |- |1.5 |- |3.0
USA |6.5 |- |35.0 |18.3 |59.8
Sub-total |49 |39.2 |162.5 |18.3 |279.7
Multilateral
African Development Bank |20.0 |- |30.0 |- |50.0
European Union Commission |49.2 |- |68.4 |9.6 |127.2
International Fund Agricultural
Development |- |- |15.0 |- |15.0
International Monetary Fund |13.0 |- |- |- |13.0
Organisation of Petroleum Exporting
Countries |- |- |- |12.9 |12.9
United Nations Agencies |- |- |10.0 |- |10.0
World Bank |45.0 |- |30.0 |- |75.0
Sub-total |127.2 |- |153.4 |22.5 |303.1
Total-funds pledges |176.2 |39.2 |315.9 |40.8 |582.8
Funds requested |189.6 |273.7 |300.9 |- |764.1
Notes
<1> Government of Rwanda's programme of national reconciliation and socio-economic rehabilitation and recovery.
Sub-programme 1: financial support.
Sub-programme 2: reintegration of refugees and displaced-some duplication with consolidated inter-agency appeal.
Sub-programme 3: rehabilitation/development.
Pledges by Austria, Ireland, Spain and Sweden remain to be allocated into specific sub-programmes.
Thus the total of funds allocated to sub-programmes do not add up to the total.
flag Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what study his Department is making of the ecological effect of dams.
Mr. Baldry: The only study which the ODA has in progress concerns the prediction of reservoir sedimentation rates. Guidance on how to take account of the ecological effect of dams is covered in the ODA's "Manual of Environmental Appraisal", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
HEALTH
Gynaecological Departments
Mr. Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses there are in gynaecological out-patient and in-patient departments in the Northumberland health authority and Cheviot and Wansbeck hospital.
Mr. Sackville: The information available centrally is shown in the table. For more information the hon. Member may wish to contact the vice- chairman of Northumberland health authority, Mr. David Wright, and the chairman of Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS trust, Mr. Roger Baker.
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Nursing and midwifery staff (excluding agency) in the gynaecology area of work as at 30 September 1992Whole-Time Equivalents
Cheviot and Wansbeck Hospital*
Northumberland District Health Authority 10
Source:
PD(Stats)B non-medical workforce census.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 whole-time equivalents. *denotes values of 5 and under.
Cosmetic Surgery
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she last met the Royal College of Surgeons to discuss the regulating of cosmetic surgery.
Mr. Sackville: We have had no such meeting.
Mental Illness
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many physical assaults on staff and patients, including self-inflicted injuries, occurred on psychiatric wards in London in the last year that figures are available.
Mr. Bowis: National health service trusts and other providers of in- patient psychiatric services will collect information on assaults and self- inflicted injuries by patients to help them monitor the quality of service they provide. Health authorities and other purchasers can
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obtain details through the contracting process. We do not require information to be submitted to the Department.Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the bed occupancy rate for psychiatric wards in national health service hospitals and trusts in (a) London, (b) Birmingham and (c) Manchester; and what is the method by which the bed occupancy rate is measured.
Mr. Bowis: Health authorities and providers of acute psychiatric services are familiar with the concept of bed occupancy and the Department has not sought to specify the method they should use to calculate occupancy rates. Average bed occupancy rates can be agreed as part of the contracting process and will relate to local circumstances. We do not require information about bed occupancy rates to be submitted to the Department.
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what mechanism her Department monitors the effectiveness of mental health care services in London, Birmingham and Manchester; how often data are collected; what measurements are used; and how long after any data are collected they are published.
Mr. Bowis: The North Thames and South Thames, West Midlands and North West regional offices of the National Health Service Executive monitor the effectiveness of mental health services in London, Birmingham and Manchester respectively by working closely with district health authorities which are responsible for assessing the health needs of their local population and securing an appropriate range of services to meet those needs.
Accident and Emergency Departments
Mr. Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency departments there are in the United Kingdom at present; and what was the corresponding figure in each year since 1986.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals have had accident and emergency facilities in each of the last five years.
Mr. Sackville: The information available is shown in the table. Since 1991 92 information has been collected on the basis of national health service trusts and directly managed units with accident and emergency facilities. Before that, information was collected on an individual hospital basis. Comparable information for earlier years is not therefore available.
Trusts<1> and directly managed units with Accident and Emergency departments<2> England Year |Number ---------------------- 1991-92 |238 1992-93 |226 1993-94 |218 <1> A trust or a directly managed unit may consist of a number of hospitals each with its own A and E department. <2> With medical staff on site and where the intention is to open 168 hours per week.
The provision of information about accident and emergency services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
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Regional Health Authorities
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the functions currently carried out by regional health authorities; and who will be responsible for each function after the implementation of the Health Authorities Bill.
Mr. Malone: The transfer of functions currently carried out by regional health authorities has already been determined in all but two significant areas, in which detailed discussions are still under way.
National Health Service Executive headquarters, with advice from regional offices, will set the strategic framework, make revenue allocations to the new health authorities and make appointments to health authorities and NHS trusts. NHS Executive regional offices will be responsible for performance management of health authorities and NHS trusts and for admissions to the general practitioner fundholder scheme and allocations to GP fundholders. Regional offices will also be responsible through postgraduate deans for commissioning postgraduate medical education and training, for medical work force planning and for GP vocational training.
Consortia of health authorities and NHS trusts will take on responsibility for commissioning non-medical education and training and for non-medical work force planning. They will be supported, especially initially, by the regional offices and by a national strategy set by headquarters. Health authorities will take on purchasing of most specialised services and most public health functions, often on a lead purchaser basis or in consortia. Health authorities will also take on supervision of midwifery practice and responsibility for current RHA functions under the Mental Health Act 1983.
The contracts of junior doctors are under discussion with the profession. Future arrangements for handling complaints will be announced shortly in the light of the Government's response to the report of the Wilson committee.
Full details are contained in the Government document "Managing the New NHS --Functions and Responsibilities in the new NHS" published in July 1994.
NHS Treatment (Non-UK Citizens)
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the cost to the NHS of providing NHS treatment to non-UK citizens who are not entitled to receive it.
Mr. Sackville: Guidance issued to health authorities and national health service trusts sets out the procedures to be followed in obtaining payment where patients are not exempt from charges for NHS hospital treatment under the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989 (as amended). Those who believe they have evidence of such fraudulent behaviour should contact the chief executive of the NHS unit concerned.
Private Sector Contracts
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts have been awarded by (a) health authorities and (b) local authority social services departments to the private sector in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Sackville: This information is not available centrally. I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend
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the Secretary of State for the Environment for information on local authority social services department contracts with the private sector.
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